User:LoquaciousNika/sandbox

Hi Wikipedia! Although I'm new to the site, I really feel like I can help contribute to the store of information available here by helping complete the Cultural transformation theory article. Its missing a lot of information including examples of societies which have undergone significant changes within their culture. Another aspect I would like to highlight is what sort of society existed years ago in comparison to the society that exists today. By viewing the differences and similarities, it'll help describe how cultural transformation is a tangible concept that exists within the real world.

Dominator vs Partnership Patterns of Organization

Eisler distinguished four different dimensions that these societies explicitly differ in: social structure, gender relations, emotional, and value beliefs.

Social Structure

Dominator model societies follow a rigid hierarchy system. Certain individuals or groups of individuals are unquestioningly in superior over others. Even daily activities are a power struggle, and often those in power remain in power while those inferior remain inferior. Partnership model societies follow a “hierarchy of actualization”. This means that the wisest person, depending on the situation, is in power. But rather than control the group, they try to empower those who are less experienced so that they may learn as well.

Gender Relations

In dominator model societies, males generally rank above females because they tend to express more masculine values, like conquest and control. Males are more power-oriented than females from birth and so are at a biological advantage. To even further divide the two genders, children are also taught at a young age that they are different from each other. When playing, if a girl is too rough she’ll be more likely to get scolded than if she were a boy. Common sayings like “boys will be boys” and “you should be more ladylike” train children that girls are not allowed to do the same things boys can do. The division only becomes more apparent as kids grow up. Even as fully grown adults, women are looked upon negatively in numerous male-dominated positions. The same is for men who work in female-dominated jobs. In a partnership society, there is no dominant gender or sex; males and females work together in all positions. Feminine values like empathy, compassion and acceptance are freely expressed by both genders.

Emotional

Fear is significantly present in dominator model societies; more so from the group considered inferior. Abuse or violent activities can be seen at the domestic, work, and social levels. Individuals tend to intensely avoid showing emotions that could suggest vulnerability and weakness in front of others. In partnership model societies, trust is nurtured between people and sharing one’s emotions is encouraged. Violence is avoided against others.

Value Beliefs

At its core, dominator model societies thrive on a system of domination and control. Power is seen as good and violence is not an offensive method to attaining one’s goal. For one group to get ahead, it’s necessary for another to be put down. On the contrary, partnership model societies thrive on the compassion and mutual respect each individual has for one another. Problems are solved through negotiation as each party tries to come to a solution that’s accommodating for all.

Over the last few millennia, dominator model societies have largely prevailed in human history but this does not mean that partnership model ideals have been completely eradicated. There have been times when the partnership model has resurfaced within society as well. Eisler ascertains that at several levels, these two models exist:

With those we have an intimate relationship with.
With one’s own thoughts and conceptions.
With the local community.
Between citizens and the government.
With the global community.
Between human beings and nonhuman nature.
Between the individual and the divine.

Bibliography

Eisler, R. (2011). The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future. Harper Collins. ISBN: 0062046306

Brewer, D. and Teeter, E. (1999). Ancient Egyptian Society and Family Life. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9780521616898

Biagi, P. (2004). Women in Ancient Sindh: Bronze Age Figurines of the Indus Valley Civilization. Sindh Watch Quarterly. ISBN: 1520-9318